Spanish Journey Part Two
3. Cadiz

Narrator
Cadiz is a dazzling city located on the Costa de la Luz. Notwithstanding its exotic beauty, it is little known by tourists, but that does not mean it was a mere crossroads in the past as well: many cultures have left their mark here. It is believed by some that Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe. There were people already living here in 1100BC and the museum contains some astounding archaeological finds. All the pieces in the museum were found either in Cadiz or nearby. Cadiz archaeologist, Lorenzo Rodríguez Rodríguez, here discusses the museum's prize exhibits with Inka.

Inka Martí
Here we are at two unique exhibits in Europe, the Phoenician sarcophagi.

Lorenzo Rodríguez
Indeed they are unique in Europe. They have been dated back to the 5th century BC, to be precise: around 450BC. The story behind their discovery is an unusual one. The first one, the male one, was found in 1880 and the second in 1980. The female sarcophagus has a strange and lovely story to it: it was found just under the house of Don Pelayo Quintero, who was director, one of the first directors as such of Cadiz Museum. It really is a trick of history, isn’t it, a trick of time? For precisely that archaeologist from the last century to have the female sarcophagus under his very own house, under his bed!

Narrator
Cadiz boomed again in the 18th century. The Guadalquivir became silted up and boats coming from the Americas were obliged to tie up in Cadiz, as they could no longer go up the river to Seville. The merchants spent their new-found wealth on embellishing the city and building a new cathedral. They also built special watchtowers, which gave the panoramic views over the sea and the city. Inka is standing at the top of the Tariva tower, one of Cadiz' watchtowers.

Inka Martí
Irene, how high up are we?

Irene
45 metres above sea level.

Inka Martí
How many towers are there in Cadiz?

Irene
There are 126 left now out of the 160 that were built in the 18th century. 

Inka Martí
What were they used for in the olden days?

Irene
They belonged to the merchants. They were Europeans that traded with America and they moved here because this is where all the trading routes to and from the Americas met, directly or indirectly. From their towers they controlled the arrival and departure of ships in port.

Inka Martí 
And what did the merchants do? They watched and then? What use was that?

Irene
To get a better price for their merchandise and to have everything ready for the arrival of a ship - to transport everything to their warehouses that were located in their living quarters.

Inka Martí
So they were attached to palaces?

Irene
Yes, the towers were always atop a palace or mansion house, for instance, this one belonged to the Marquises of Recaño.

Inka Martí
And nowadays, what is this tower used for?

Irene
We put an old monument to good use by installing a camera obscura.

Inka Martí
What is a camera obscura?

Irene
It is a periscope that has a panoramic view of the city and reflects it onto a screen, and we always have a guide alongside who explains the history of Cadiz and all the main buildings that can be seen from here.

Inka Martí
That is an old invention.

Irene
Yes, it was invented by Leonardo da Vinci.

Inka Martí
The truth is that it is a great viewpoint up here.

Irene
Yes, because it's in the heart of the old city. [music]

Narrator
Cadiz has a reputation for liberalism and tolerance and every year during the Carnival groups of singers called "chirigotas" sing satirical verses like the following:[song].